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Reuben Johnson Foster

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Reuben Johnson Foster

Birth
Butler County, Ohio, USA
Death
26 Aug 1901 (aged 65)
Montclair, Hendricks County, Indiana, USA
Burial
North Salem, Hendricks County, Indiana, USA GPS-Latitude: 39.858101, Longitude: -86.6369594
Memorial ID
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from A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 977-978:

Reuben J. Foster is an enterprising and successful farmer of Union Township, Hendricks County, Ind., and is of Scotch extraction. His grandfather, James Foster, was a native of Virginia, but emigrated in early life to Butler County, Ohio, and was numbered among the successful early settlers. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 under Gen. Wayne, was a devoted admirer of the noted warrior, and died in Butler County, an honored and respected old citizen. Joshua Foster, son of above and father of Reuben J. Foster, the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia. From his youth up he was engaged in farming, and was captain of the old muster company. He married Aletha Johnson, of Butler County, Ohio, but they immediately moved to Decatur County, Ind., and settled on new land, improving it and finally making a choice farm of 200 acres, residing there till their deaths. He was a local Democrat of note and took a leading part in politics. The father was inclined toward the Baptist faith, while the mother was a member of the Methodist Church. He died in 1845 and she died in April, 1858.

Reuben J. Foster, our subject, was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 22, 1836. He received a common education in the pioneer log school-house, so well known to the frontier of his early day and so often described in the pages of this volume, as being constructed of round logs, with clap-board roof held down by weight poles, puncheon or clay floor, stick and cat chimney, and fire-place reaching across the entire end of the room; furnished with seats constructed of small logs split in two, the flat sides of which were turned upward to be sat upon and the round sides turned downward and holes bored in for the insertion of pegs for legs; the desks formed by similar pegs being driven into the wall, on which pegs split puncheons were placed for writing upon, and over which light was shed through apertures in the wall covered with greased paper. He has been constantly on the farm all his life, and married Margaret Gentry (daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Gentry, of Hendricks County, Ind.) He has been in the county since 1858, and has seen it improved from its original state to its present incomparable condition. His children were named, in order of birth, as follows: Sarah J. (deceased), Isaac W., David, Edgar, Iva and Harry J., all living, except the eldest. He and the family have accumulated, altogether by industry, a choice farm of 200 acres of fertile lands, highly improved with modern farm house and barn, etc., that will compare favorably with any in the county. He is a progressive and enterprising agriculturist, and has been a local politician of note, having been nominated by the Democratic Party some years ago for township trustee and county treasurer. He is a deacon in the Regular Baptist Church, and is truly religious. His sons, Edgar and David (firm name, Foster Bros/), own Pocohontas Sam, Jr., sired by J. K. Henry's famous horse of the same name, and a full brother to Bailey's horse, of the imported four-year-old chestnut sorrel stallion, Tim, 2:15 ½. Out of nine races this summer he took first money six times.

from the Republican for Sept. 5, 1901:

Lizton: Reuben J. Foster died at his home three miles south of here, Monday, Aug. 26, 1901. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Wadkins at the home Wednesday at 10 o'clock, after which the remains were laid to rest in the North Salem cemetery. He was the son of Joshua and Altha Foster, was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 22, 1837. His parents were natives of Virginia. They came to Indiana in 1837 and were among the early settlers of Decatur County. Of a family of nine children born to them, only two now survive. The name of those now living are Nancy C. and Joshua. Our subject was reared to manhood in Decatur County and in 1858 came to Hendricks County. In February, 1859, he was married to Miss Margaret Gentry who was born January 16, 1842 - a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Gentry - early settlers of this country. Six children were born to them - Sarah J., deceased, Isaac W., Pleasant D., Edgar T., Iva M. and Harry. Mr. Foster and his wife were earnest members of the Regular Baptist church. He leaves a wife and five children to mourn their loss. The family has the sympathy of this community.
from A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 977-978:

Reuben J. Foster is an enterprising and successful farmer of Union Township, Hendricks County, Ind., and is of Scotch extraction. His grandfather, James Foster, was a native of Virginia, but emigrated in early life to Butler County, Ohio, and was numbered among the successful early settlers. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 under Gen. Wayne, was a devoted admirer of the noted warrior, and died in Butler County, an honored and respected old citizen. Joshua Foster, son of above and father of Reuben J. Foster, the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia. From his youth up he was engaged in farming, and was captain of the old muster company. He married Aletha Johnson, of Butler County, Ohio, but they immediately moved to Decatur County, Ind., and settled on new land, improving it and finally making a choice farm of 200 acres, residing there till their deaths. He was a local Democrat of note and took a leading part in politics. The father was inclined toward the Baptist faith, while the mother was a member of the Methodist Church. He died in 1845 and she died in April, 1858.

Reuben J. Foster, our subject, was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 22, 1836. He received a common education in the pioneer log school-house, so well known to the frontier of his early day and so often described in the pages of this volume, as being constructed of round logs, with clap-board roof held down by weight poles, puncheon or clay floor, stick and cat chimney, and fire-place reaching across the entire end of the room; furnished with seats constructed of small logs split in two, the flat sides of which were turned upward to be sat upon and the round sides turned downward and holes bored in for the insertion of pegs for legs; the desks formed by similar pegs being driven into the wall, on which pegs split puncheons were placed for writing upon, and over which light was shed through apertures in the wall covered with greased paper. He has been constantly on the farm all his life, and married Margaret Gentry (daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Gentry, of Hendricks County, Ind.) He has been in the county since 1858, and has seen it improved from its original state to its present incomparable condition. His children were named, in order of birth, as follows: Sarah J. (deceased), Isaac W., David, Edgar, Iva and Harry J., all living, except the eldest. He and the family have accumulated, altogether by industry, a choice farm of 200 acres of fertile lands, highly improved with modern farm house and barn, etc., that will compare favorably with any in the county. He is a progressive and enterprising agriculturist, and has been a local politician of note, having been nominated by the Democratic Party some years ago for township trustee and county treasurer. He is a deacon in the Regular Baptist Church, and is truly religious. His sons, Edgar and David (firm name, Foster Bros/), own Pocohontas Sam, Jr., sired by J. K. Henry's famous horse of the same name, and a full brother to Bailey's horse, of the imported four-year-old chestnut sorrel stallion, Tim, 2:15 ½. Out of nine races this summer he took first money six times.

from the Republican for Sept. 5, 1901:

Lizton: Reuben J. Foster died at his home three miles south of here, Monday, Aug. 26, 1901. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Wadkins at the home Wednesday at 10 o'clock, after which the remains were laid to rest in the North Salem cemetery. He was the son of Joshua and Altha Foster, was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 22, 1837. His parents were natives of Virginia. They came to Indiana in 1837 and were among the early settlers of Decatur County. Of a family of nine children born to them, only two now survive. The name of those now living are Nancy C. and Joshua. Our subject was reared to manhood in Decatur County and in 1858 came to Hendricks County. In February, 1859, he was married to Miss Margaret Gentry who was born January 16, 1842 - a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Gentry - early settlers of this country. Six children were born to them - Sarah J., deceased, Isaac W., Pleasant D., Edgar T., Iva M. and Harry. Mr. Foster and his wife were earnest members of the Regular Baptist church. He leaves a wife and five children to mourn their loss. The family has the sympathy of this community.


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